What are the educational and health status requirements to be an astronaut.
To be a mission specialist or a pilot astronaut, the experience and education needs are at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, biological science or mathematics. Although for mission specialist applicants, you also require 3 years of experience on top of the degree. Or if you have an advanced degree, it can substitute for experience time. For example, a master's degree can cut up to 1 full year of work experience and a doctoral degree cuts 3 years of experience. Astronaut applicants must also have, at least 1,000 hours flight time in a jet aircraft, 20/20 vision in each eye, have a blood pressure of 140/90 measured sitting down and height between 64 and 76 inches. Selected finalists are screened during a process of interviews, medical tests and orientation. The astronaut selection is based on the applicants education, training and experience, unique qualifications and basic skills. Astronauts are expected to be team players with the right amount of individuality and self-reliance to be effective crew members.
What is involved in the astronaut training program?
The first step of astronaut training is just reading manuals and taking computer classes on Orbiter systems. The next step is condemned in the SST (Single Systems Trainer), where an instructor takes each astronaut applicant and helps in the learning process about the operation of each Orbiter subsystem. The reason for SST training is to allow the astronaut to operate each system, recognize problems and to perform the right actions. Astronaut candidates also receive training in scuba diving, space suits, parachute jumping, and land and sea survival training. They learn how to cope with emergencies associated with high and low atmospheric pressures, in the altitude chambers.
What do astronauts eat and drink in space and how do they exercise and use the washroom facilities.
Astronauts, not to long ago, had to eat freeze dried food and small amounts of water at a meal because of shortage. Now because of new heating technologies, they can eat full cooked meals and powdered liquid. Having enough water on board to clean, wash and to live on would be to expensive and would take up to much room. Now with powdered liquid, it makes it a whole lot easier. Convectional ovens are used to heat the meat and other food that is cook-able. Each astronaut is given the privilege of being able to choose their meals. Mostly chicken, fish, spaghetti or beef, and some special meals are prepared and packaged for an astronaut in
advance. Although safety is the biggest concern so loose liquids, candy bits, potato chips, etc. cannot be allowed on board.
Astronauts can brush their teeth exactly like they do on earth. The shuttle is without a shower or bath, so they must take sponge baths until they return to earth. Every space shuttle has a toilet designed to be as much like normal ones as possible. The toilets also use air instead of water to move the waste through the system. Any water waste is vented into space, while solid waste is stored on board and then removed after landing. Astronauts can also sleep normally, just on smaller beds such as cots.
Chris Hadfield is an accomplished astronaut, who has worked with both the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Program (NASA). Among many other accomplishments, he was the first Canadian (from the CSA) to walk in space. Many landmarks or important assets have been named after him, such as Sarnia's Chris Hadfield Airport, Chris Hadfield Public School, Chris Hadfield Park, and Chris Hadfield Way in Milton, and the Royal Canadian Air Cadet's 820 Chris Hadfield Air Cadet Squadron. Chris Hadfield is married and has three children.
Education
Hadfield has an extremely accomplished academic career. In his early life, he attended Montclair Senior School and White Oaks High School in Oakville, and graduated as an Ontario Scholar (an academic achievement) from Milton District High School in 1977.Hadfield earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1982. He conducted post-graduate research at the University of Waterloo, Ontario in 1982 and received a Master of Science in aviation systems at the University of Tennessee in 1992.
Career
Hadfield trained to be a pilot in the Canadian Forces, and was top graduate of his jet training class in 1983. He conducted North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) missions for three years, in which he flew a CF-18 fighter jet, and at one point was credited with the first CF-18 interception of a Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 aricraft. Hadfield also attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, before his work turned to research and testing. He worked as an exchange officer with the US Navy at Strike Aircraft Test Directorate, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Maryland.
Life as an Astronaut
In 1992, Hadfield applied to join the Canada space program, and was chosen after competing with more than 5300 applicants. There, he was assigned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Johnson Space Center. Hadfield was the base commander for 25 shuttle missions, before actually going on a mission himself. Hadfield was Mission Specialist #1 on the shuttleAtlantis, and operated the Canadarm for NASA's second space shuttle mission. On his next mission, Hadfield was once again the Mission Specialist on Endeavour. Hadfield spent 14 hours, 54 minutes outside the craft on two spacewalks, including the first by a Canadian. From 2001 to 2003, Hadfield was NASA's Director of Operations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, before retiring from the Canadian Forces as a Colonel in 2003 after 25 years of service. He is now Chief of International Space Station Operations for the NASA Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Astronaut Training.
By Devon and JonathanFollowing Section's Author: Devon Taylor
To be a mission specialist or a pilot astronaut, the experience and education needs are at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, biological science or mathematics. Although for mission specialist applicants, you also require 3 years of experience on top of the degree. Or if you have an advanced degree, it can substitute for experience time. For example, a master's degree can cut up to 1 full year of work experience and a doctoral degree cuts 3 years of experience. Astronaut applicants must also have, at least 1,000 hours flight time in a jet aircraft, 20/20 vision in each eye, have a blood pressure of 140/90 measured sitting down and height between 64 and 76 inches. Selected finalists are screened during a process of interviews, medical tests and orientation. The astronaut selection is based on the applicants education, training and experience, unique qualifications and basic skills. Astronauts are expected to be team players with the right amount of individuality and self-reliance to be effective crew members.
The first step of astronaut training is just reading manuals and taking computer classes on Orbiter systems. The next step is condemned in the SST (Single Systems Trainer), where an instructor takes each astronaut applicant and helps in the learning process about the operation of each Orbiter subsystem. The reason for SST training is to allow the astronaut to operate each system, recognize problems and to perform the right actions. Astronaut candidates also receive training in scuba diving, space suits, parachute jumping, and land and sea survival training. They learn how to cope with emergencies associated with high and low atmospheric pressures, in the altitude chambers.
Astronauts, not to long ago, had to eat freeze dried food and small amounts of water at a meal because of shortage. Now because of new heating technologies, they can eat full cooked meals and powdered liquid. Having enough water on board to clean, wash and to live on would be to expensive and would take up to much room. Now with powdered liquid, it makes it a whole lot easier. Convectional ovens are used to heat the meat and other food that is cook-able. Each astronaut is given the privilege of being able to choose their meals. Mostly chicken, fish, spaghetti or beef, and some special meals are prepared and packaged for an astronaut in
advance. Although safety is the biggest concern so loose liquids, candy bits, potato chips, etc. cannot be allowed on board.
Astronauts can brush their teeth exactly like they do on earth. The shuttle is without a shower or bath, so they must take sponge baths until they return to earth. Every space shuttle has a toilet designed to be as much like normal ones as possible. The toilets also use air instead of water to move the waste through the system. Any water waste is vented into space, while solid waste is stored on board and then removed after landing. Astronauts can also sleep normally, just on smaller beds such as cots.
Citations
http://marsville.enoreo.on.ca/crew/training
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/faq/living.html
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/6098/training.htm
http://www.pbs.org/spacestation/station/training.htm
http://www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESA1RMGBCLC_astronauts_0.html
Following Section's Author: Jonathan Osborne
Astronaut Bios
Chris Hadfield
Chris Hadfield is an accomplished astronaut, who has worked with both the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Program (NASA). Among many other accomplishments, he was the first Canadian (from the CSA) to walk in space. Many landmarks or important assets have been named after him, such as Sarnia's Chris Hadfield Airport, Chris Hadfield Public School, Chris Hadfield Park, and Chris Hadfield Way in Milton, and the Royal Canadian Air Cadet's 820 Chris Hadfield Air Cadet Squadron. Chris Hadfield is married and has three children.
Education
Hadfield has an extremely accomplished academic career. In his early life, he attended Montclair Senior School and White Oaks High School in Oakville, and graduated as an Ontario Scholar (an academic achievement) from Milton District High School in 1977.Hadfield earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario in 1982. He conducted post-graduate research at the University of Waterloo, Ontario in 1982 and received a Master of Science in aviation systems at the University of Tennessee in 1992.
Career
Hadfield trained to be a pilot in the Canadian Forces, and was top graduate of his jet training class in 1983. He conducted North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) missions for three years, in which he flew a CF-18 fighter jet, and at one point was credited with the first CF-18 interception of a Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 aricraft. Hadfield also attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, before his work turned to research and testing. He worked as an exchange officer with the US Navy at Strike Aircraft Test Directorate, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Maryland.
Life as an Astronaut
In 1992, Hadfield applied to join the Canada space program, and was chosen after competing with more than 5300 applicants. There, he was assigned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Johnson Space Center. Hadfield was the base commander for 25 shuttle missions, before actually going on a mission himself. Hadfield was Mission Specialist #1 on the shuttleAtlantis, and operated the Canadarm for NASA's second space shuttle mission. On his next mission, Hadfield was once again the Mission Specialist on Endeavour. Hadfield spent 14 hours, 54 minutes outside the craft on two spacewalks, including the first by a Canadian. From 2001 to 2003, Hadfield was NASA's Director of Operations at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, before retiring from the Canadian Forces as a Colonel in 2003 after 25 years of service. He is now Chief of International Space Station Operations for the NASA Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Marc Garneau
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